Have you read about how the lovely Laura Shovan is commemorating another trip around the sun this year? Her birthday isn't until late February, but she's launched a Poetry Postcard project to celebrate. I signed up through her blog to receive on of her special offerings, which are intriguing vintage postcards that she's graced with one of her original poems.

How delighted I was to receive my mailbox surprise this week! You can see in the image above that the glossy picture on the front is of butterflies. Not just any butterflies, but vintage illustrations of "Papillons du Brésil" (or, "Butterflies of Brazil" in French). The five specimens are identified, with each name apparently hand written originally with calligraphy in brown ink.

How perfect is this card to start my New Year? Well, I do have a "thing" for butterflies, as I do many wonderful beasties, not only for their beauty but for what they might symbolize on a personal level for those who encounter them. I certainly have a thing for calligraphy. I even took French in high school and college. And I've actually been to the location described on the back of the card: Callaway Gardens, which boasts the incredible Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center, where these living works of art flit above and around entranced visitors of all ages. It's in Pine Mountain, Georgia, south of Atlanta. This postcard makes me want to visit again sometime soon!

[Oh, and did you notice this is Poetry Postcard "5", and there are five butterflies in the picture? I have a thing for the number 5, too....]

Okay, I know - you want to read Laura's poem! It appeared previously on her own blog, but just in case you missed it, as I did, I'm thrilled to share it here with her permission:

Symmetry

Trick mirrors revealthe human face is never foldedin perfect halves. Perhapsthis is true of the butterfly, too.Pin one up and there's a cuffed wing, damaged tail,scales so thin with wearsunlight comes through.After hundreds of miles,one might call them frail.

Thank you, Robyn. I hadn't even noticed the symmetry of postcard 5 and 5 butterflies! You're right, Renee's name is butterfly-friendly, and French too.

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Laura Shovan

January 11, 2013 2:21 AM EST

And French, too! Of course! Thanks so much for sharing your fine work here today, Laura. Happy Birthday Season!

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Robyn Black

January 11, 2013 3:04 AM EST

Indeed, much to ponder! Liked the thought-provoking nature of this.

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Matt Forrest Esenwine

January 11, 2013 4:15 AM EST

So, what's with the number 5? :)

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elizabeth d

January 11, 2013 4:55 AM EST

Glad you enjoyed, Matt! Thanks for popping in.<br><br>e, "5" was one of those special numbers for me as a kid. I later figured out if you add up my birthday date numbers and then add again to get a single number, you end up with 5. I used to love to play with numbers in my head before I ever heard of numerology (which I don't know a whole lot about, but it's intriguing!) Laura's birthday celebration, she explains in her posts, was partly inspired by the fact she'll be 44 on 2/22. Cool, huh? (And, okay, I won't point out that this is the fifth comment here today...!)

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Robyn Black

January 11, 2013 5:24 AM EST

Now that is truly lovely. My (now eleven) year old daughter once referred to herself as a prince in a play when she was four. When I asked her pointedly and in a decidedly leading question whether she was a boy or a pretty little girl, she replied with much theater and panache: "I'm a butterfly!" - and I knew we must have done something right to hear this from her lips at a young age. This poem reminded me of that lovely moment. :) Thanks Robyn and Laura!

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Myra from GatheringBooks

January 11, 2013 5:37 AM EST

What a lovely poem! It's so much fun seeing Laura's postcard poems alighting on different blogs :). Perhaps the number "5" means you need to write five more butterfly poems of your own . . .

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jama

January 11, 2013 5:43 AM EST

Hello, Myra! What a WONDERFUL story! And, yes, you all must be doing something right. I hope your lovely daughter continues to have butterfly moments as she grows and before too long becomes a teenager. :0) But no rush!<br><br>Hi, Jama! You know I have a hard time resisting a challenge... ;0) We've missed you - Happy New Year after your little holiday break.

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Robyn Black

January 11, 2013 7:03 AM EST

Hi Robyn! Thank you for sharing Laura's lovely poem and your personal connection to butterflies. I love the image:<br>"After hundreds of miles,<br>one might call them frail."<br>True of people maybe?

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Bridget Magee

January 11, 2013 8:42 AM EST

Bridget, thanks for visiting - :0) That last line caught me, too - it immediately suggested a butterfly AND a person. I really like this poem!

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Robyn Black

January 11, 2013 9:30 AM EST

An incredibly lovely poem and much to ponder, you are right! It brought to mind the Shakespeare quote, "Frailty, thy name is woman [substitute human]".

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B.J. Lee

January 11, 2013 9:42 AM EST

Ahh, yes, BJ! My mind went first to Sting's "Fragile" song when I read this. (OK, that shows both my age and my rock star crush side...!) Thanks for coming by.

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Robyn Black

January 11, 2013 9:53 AM EST

Another thing we share, Robyn. I totally have a crush on Sting. Going back to the 7th grade. Sigh. Thank you for the comments, everyone. Yes, I do see some symmetry between human nature and butterflies.

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Laura Shovan

January 11, 2013 11:36 AM EST

Laura - ha! Such good taste. I mean, anyone who can pull off sexy charisma while singing a line that includes the "Scylla and Charybdis"... ! But I digress. The "Fragile" song is what came to mind with your lovely poem. ;0)

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Robyn Black

January 11, 2013 4:48 PM EST

Beautiful, both the poem and the postcard project. I love the way this poem finds beauty in imperfection and those worn out but still lovely wings

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Violet N.

January 11, 2013 5:14 PM EST

Beautifully put, Violet! Thanks for visiting.

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Robyn Black

January 11, 2013 8:19 PM EST

Finally to your post, Robyn. I have seen the butterfly poem earlier, & think it is wonderfully sad (rather contradictory I know). These creatures do so much considering their size, I enjoyed the connections you made also, like the number 5. Interesting stuff!

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Linda Baie

January 12, 2013 5:00 AM EST

Lovely!

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Mary Lee Hahn

January 12, 2013 6:01 AM EST

Love the butterflies. What an awesome project and poem.

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Betsy

January 12, 2013 6:04 AM EST

My grandmother collected butterflies, pinned them to cardboard. She died when I was still young, but I remember this. The postcard and poem reminded me of her. We may not be symmetrical, but like the butterfly, we are all beautiful creatures of God. Thanks for sharing your gift.

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Margaret

January 12, 2013 7:09 AM EST

Hi, Linda! I get the "wonderfully sad" comment, and I agree.<br><br>Mary, Thanks for saying hello! It was a lovely gift indeed.<br><br>Hi, Betsy - me too. And I've been noticing butterfly images all over since getting this postcard. (Of course, today actually feels like spring here - crazy.)<br><br>Margaret, thanks for sharing your family story, and your lovely thoughts! :0)

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Robyn Black

January 12, 2013 4:51 PM EST

I love those last lines, the frail delicacy of those wings....and the journeys they hint at.